Cross-Sectional Evaluation of Distance Education Students' Learning Styles and Critical Thinking Dispositions in Turkey

Abstract

This study aims to examine distance education students' learning styles and critical thinking dispositions. This cross sectional survey was conducted on 114 Turkish distance education students from various departments in a state university. The data of the study were collected through Grasha-Riechmann Student Learning Style Scale (GRSLSS) and California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI). Cronbach Alpha coefficiencies of the scales were .76 for GRSLSS and .79 for CCTDI. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations), t-test and one-way analysis of variance tests were used. The results indicated that the dependent learning style was the most preferred style and the avoidant learning style was the least preferred style. The further analysis regarding learning style indicated that female students perceived themselves more dependent than male students. The results also indicated that students in teacher training programs scored higher in independent and avoidant sub-scales, while students in arts and sciences programs scored higher in dependent, collaborative, competitive and participant sub-scales. The results manifested that students' critical thinking dispositions were at a low level, and they mostly had analyticity and open-mindedness dispositions. Female students were found to have more critical thinking dispositions than male students.

Senior High School Students’ Perceptions in the Use of Electronic Media in Non-Formal Education Classroom

“…The use of information and communication technology in education in the form of electronic-based learning models commonly known as e-learning, which means that in learning, students use media assistance in the form of electronic devices such as computers, laptops and cellular phones (Tagoe, 2012). Some other terms of e learning include: online learning, internet enabled learning, virtual learning, web based learning, online course learning (Yüksel & Türkses, 2015). One of the important types of non-formal education is associated with child development and learning, early childhood care and education (ECCE) is considered to be one of the kinds of non-formal education.…”